Christ4Ever said:

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. Matthew 13:44 NLT

Speaking to people who generally had limited resources and few possessions of value, Jesus drove home the immense worth of God’s kingdom. Selling all of his possessions, possibly even his home, could leave a man destitute and unable to provide for himself or his family. Yet the treasure he sacrificed everything to find would prove more valuable many times over.

Jesus is asking you to consider your commitments and priorities today. What is keeping you from pursuing God and the priorities of His kingdom? It may be a jam-packed schedule or professional priorities of His kingdom? It may be a jam-packed schedule or professional priorities or a leisure activity that has consumed hours of your time. Then again, your possessions may serve as a weight holding you back from drawing near to God.

The treasure of God’s kingdom is worth more than these things that will one day pass away. Your security in His kingdom is the only unshakable thing you can count on, and that’s why it’s worth giving up everything else to obtain it.

Prayer: Father, help me to see what holds me back from seeking first Your kingdom and Your righteousness so that I can let go and pursue Your kingdom first.

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I think a good summation of everything you just said would be Matthew 6:33 ,

Christ4Ever said:

Your security in His kingdom is the only unshakable thing you can count on, and that’s why it’s worth giving up everything else to obtain it.

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Reader...

You dont have to give up anything to Have the Kingdom of God.
Christ teaches that the KOG is within you.... Luke 17
How do you get it in there? Its by becoming born again into it......>"translated from darkness.......TO Light".
This costs you nothing, as Jesus has paid the entire cost for you on the Cross, 2000 years ago.

Now After that.........and regarding discipleship, and total commitment........
Thats something else to be decided as you count the cost before you jump.
Many Jump , thinking that God is going to give them wings on the way down, and in fact, He never told you to jump.
You told you to jump, because you are trying to be impressive and you need attention.

So, if you are really wanting to "do something for the Lord"....then start small, and be faithful and always be available and dependable.
Master those, and you will be found in the Light.
Also, go on a mission trip, that is organized. and see what its like to do perform some real Christianity.
Get out there and feed poor stinking people, who have rotten teeth, and body odor, and have no toilet paper.
Find out what it means to serve where there is no AC and there is no crowd watching you in a church, and clapping.......
Try it..... you'll learn something about GOD.... if you do.

'Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God did beseech you by us:
we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;
that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.'
(2 Cor. 5:20-21)

Hello there, @Christ4Ever,

You ask in your subject heading:- 'What is keeping you from God?'
Referring to the OP:-

1) Are you asking this of someone who has not yet been reconciled to God through faith in His only begotten Son?
2) Or are you asking it of someone who is already reconciled to God, yet is out of fellowship with Him?

Thanking you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

complete said:

'Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God did beseech you by us:
we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;
that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.'
(2 Cor. 5:20-21)

Hello there, @Christ4Ever,

You ask in your subject heading:- 'What is keeping you from God?'
Referring to the OP:-

1) Are you asking this of someone who has not yet been reconciled to God through faith in His only begotten Son?
2) Or are you asking it of someone who is already reconciled to God, yet is out of fellowship with Him?

Thanking you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

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Hello Sister Chris,
Since I'm not the author of this Devotional I can only do as you have done and look into the contents to answer your question. So, to answer your question I must speculate on the reasoning as well

I imagine that it's meant for all the above. Each person who reads it, will normally focus to what is relevant in their own lives, their own walk. If walking they are. Sufficiently so, that some might research Scripture in order to find out more.

Whether they are in Christ or not. The hope is that it will benefit all who read it.

With the Love Christ Jesus.
YBIC
Nick
\o/
<><

Christ4Ever said:

Hello Sister Chris,
Since I'm not the author of this Devotional I can only do as you have done and look into the contents to answer your question. So, to answer your question I must speculate on the reasoning as well

I imagine that it's meant for all the above. Each person who reads it, will normally focus to what is relevant in their own lives, their own walk. If walking they are. Sufficiently so, that some might research Scripture in order to find out more.

Whether they are in Christ or not. The hope is that it will benefit all who read it.

With the Love Christ Jesus.
YBIC
Nick
\o/
<><

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Hello @Christ4Ever,

Thank you for responding to my question. Actually, I think that it would be profitable looking at this from both perspectives.

With love in Christ Jesus
Chris

Christ4Ever said:

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. Matthew 13:44 NLT

Speaking to people who generally had limited resources and few possessions of value, Jesus drove home the immense worth of God’s kingdom. Selling all of his possessions, possibly even his home, could leave a man destitute and unable to provide for himself or his family. Yet the treasure he sacrificed everything to find would prove more valuable many times over.

Jesus is asking you to consider your commitments and priorities today. What is keeping you from pursuing God and the priorities of His kingdom? It may be a jam-packed schedule or professional priorities of His kingdom? It may be a jam-packed schedule or professional priorities or a leisure activity that has consumed hours of your time. Then again, your possessions may serve as a weight holding you back from drawing near to God.

The treasure of God’s kingdom is worth more than these things that will one day pass away. Your security in His kingdom is the only unshakable thing you can count on, and that’s why it’s worth giving up everything else to obtain it.

Prayer: Father, help me to see what holds me back from seeking first Your kingdom and Your righteousness so that I can let go and pursue Your kingdom first.

Click to expand...

I guess those who have not yet come to Jesus let their pride be one barrier. I know I did. Thinking I could rely on other people and myself. I didn't realise how helpless we humans are, how brief our lives and how enormous eternity is. Once I realised, through bereavement, my eyes, ears and heart opened to the truth that Christ is here and ready to help, once I repented and asked.

Christina2000 said:

I guess those who have not yet come to Jesus let their pride be one barrier. I know I did. Thinking I could rely on other people and myself. I didn't realise how helpless we humans are, how brief our lives and how enormous eternity is. Once I realised, through bereavement, my eyes, ears and heart opened to the truth that Christ is here and ready to help, once I repented and asked.

Click to expand...

Dear Sister Christina,
Loss does have a tendency to move us to places that in the normal days of our lives we all but ignore or don't have time for. It's amazing how the burdens are lifted off one, when coming to Christ Jesus and repenting!
Of course, the continued growing in His Word allows one to see the promises that are ours in Him and gives us a joy to know now and a rejoicing for what awaits us!!!

Thank-you for sharing your words with us.

With the Love of Christ Jesus.
YBIC
Nick
\o/
<><